Latch for vehicle doors



April 21, 1931. R MAR'PLE 1,801,439

LATCH FOR VEHICLE DOORS Filed June ILOl 1925 Patented Apr. 2l, 1931UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE l ROLLO MARPLE, OF CHARLOTTE MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HANCOCKMANUFACTURING CO., OF CHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION F MICHIGANLATCH FOR VEHICLE DOORS Application led June 10,

The present invention relates to improvements in latches for vehicledoors, and has particular reference to latches of the type which may beactuated from the outside or L; inside ofthe vehicle, and which maybelocked from the inside against being actuated from the outside, so thatthe occupant of a closed vehicle may lock the latches oi" all doorsexcept one trom the inside and then lock the le remaining door afterleaving` the vehicleby means of the usual lock and key.

The primary object of the invention is t0 provide a new and improvedlatch of the above type which is simple, inexpensive, and

capable ot' easy and certain operation.

A further object is to provide a novel door latch in which a singlemeans is provided for actuating the latch from the inside and foractuating the locking means adapted to prevent opening of the door fromthe outside ofthe vehicle.

A more specic object is to provide a new and improved latch having twooperating means in which the locking means is adapted to be operated byone of the operating means, and coacts with the roll-back instead of thelatch, thereby permitting the latch to move at all times so'as toprevent jarring and breaking ot glass when the door is slammed.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an inside view in elevation ofa latch constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectionalview taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the cover plate removed.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Vhile the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will hereindescribe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understoodthat I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific formdisclosed but intend to' cover all modifications and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit apd scope of the invention.

1925. Serial No. 36,092.

Referring to the exemplary embodiment ot the invention shown in thedrawings, the latch mechanism is mounted in a casing which comprises abase plate 5 having an end flange (l, and a cover plate 7 removablysecured in any suitable manner to the base late. In the presentinstance, the cover plate?? is U-shaped in form, and is supported inspaced relation to the base plate 5 by means of end lugs 8 formed on itslegs and extending through slots 9 in the flange 6, and of tappedprojections-.1() on the base plate to which it is secured by screws 11.The casing is adapted to be mounted in a recess formed in the inner faceof the vehicle door (not shownl.

Slidably mounted on the inside face of the base plate 5 is a latch 12,thenose of which projects through the flange 6. The inner end of thelatch 12 is disposed between and adapted to be guided by a pair ofv lugs13 struck in from the base plate 5. A coil spring 14 is mounted on oneof two lugs 15 struck in from opposite sides ofthe base plate. The freeend of the spring 14 engages the inner end of the latch 12, and tends tomove the latter outwardly through the flange 6.

A roll-back 16 is pivotally mounted on one of two studs 17 supported bythe base plate at opposite sides of the latch 12, and is adapted to movethe latter inwardly against the force of the spring 14. In the presentinstance, the body of the latch 12 is constrcted of two strips 18rigidly secured together in overlapping relation to provide a space 19between the base plate and the latch, and an abutment 20 for theroll-back 16. A dog 21 is mounted on a hub 22 rotatably supported in anopening 23 in the base plate 5, and is adapted to actuate the roll-back16. The hub 22 is adapted to receive the squared shaft of a handle onthe outside of the door (not shown). A lug 24 on the dog 21 normallyengages the inside of the flange 6, and thereby limits the outwardmovement of the latch To ositively lock the latch 12 against inward)movement by means of the outer handle on the door, a dog 25 is pivotallymounted on a pin 26 on the base plate 5. The dog 25 is provided with a.lug 27 adapted to lbe moved 100 into and out of engagement with a stoplug 28 on the roll-back 16. A leaf spring 29 movable with the dog 25 isadapted to selectively engage a plurality of depressions 30 formed inthe base plate 5 to yieldingly hold the dog in adjusted position.

The dog 25 is adapted to be actuated by a verticall arranged rotaryspindle 31 provided wit a handle 32 for actuating vthe latch 12 from theinside of the door. An arm 33 formed on the dog 25 extends between twopins 34 on the spindle 31 for all positions of rotation of the latter,and is adapted to be oscillated upon shifting the latter longitudinally,to rock the lug 27 into and out of locking engagement with the lug 28.

The spindle 31 is slidablev and rotatably mounted between two pairs oflugs 35 struck in from opposite sides of the base plate 5. The portionof the spindle 31 between these pairs of lugs 35 is bent into the formof a crank which engages a lug 36 struck in from.

the end of the inner strip 18. The arms ,of the cover plate 7 serve toconfine the spindle 31 between the lugs 35, and are cut away'at 37 toprovide a space permitting movement of the crank portion and the lug 36.Rotation of the spindle 31 in a clockwise direction will cause an inwardmovement of the latch 12 independent of any movement of the roll-back16. A coil spring 38 wound on the spindle 31 tends to rotate the latterin a counterclockwise direction.

The upper edge of the cover plate 7 -is cut away to provide an inclinedcam surface 39 which engages the lower pin 34 when the spindle isdepressed to move the dog 25 into locking engagement with the roll-back16. Upon rot-ation of the spindle 31 to unlatch the door, the lower pin34 will ride along the cam surface 39, thereby shifting the spindle 31upwardly to unlock the roll-back 16.

In will be evident that I have provided a new and improved latch whichcanbe operated from the inside or the outside of the door, and which canbe locked by shifting the operating means on the inside of the door toprevent operating the latch from the outside of the door. By simplyactuating the operating means on the inside of the door, the latch willbe automatically unlocked. The construction in general is simple,inexpensive, and capable of easy and sure operation. A single means isprovided for actuating the latch and for locking the roll-back from theinterior of the vehicle. The latch can be moved though locked againstactuation from the outside, thereby preventing jars and breaking ofglass when the door is slammed. A

I claim as my invention:

1. A latch for vehicle doors having, in combination, a casing, a latchin said casing,

wardly, a rotary spindle for moving said latch inwardly, said spindlebeing mounted for longitudinal movement, a pair of pins on said spindle,a locking member extending between said ins and being adapted to beoscillated by s ifting said spindle, said locking member upon be1noscillated. being movable into or out of loc ing engagement with saidroll-back, and cam means formed on said casing for engaging one of saidpins to shift said spindle longitudinally to disengage said lockingmeans and said roll-back upon rotation of said spindle.

2. A latch for vehicle doors having, in combination, a base plate, alatch, spring means for moving said latch outwardly, a rotary spindlehaving means engaging said latch for moving the latter inwardly againstthe force ot said spring, spaced lugs struck in from said base plate,said spindle being journaled at spaced points between said lugs, and acover plate fitting over said lugs to retain said spindle therein.

3. A latch for vehicle doors having, in combination, a base plate, alatch movable on said base plate, spring means for moving sai latchoutwardly, a rotary sliding spindle having a crank portion engaging thelatch for moving the latter inwardly against the force of said spring,two pairs of lugs struck in from said base plate at opposite sides ofsaid crank portion, nalled between said lugs and said pairs of lugsbeing spaced sutiiciently apart to permit sliding movement of said crankportion, and a cover plate fitting over said lugs to retain said spindletherein.

4. In a lock, in combination, a rotary slidable spindle, a pivotal dogoperated by said spindle, said dog having an arm extending alongside thespindle whereby to permit rotation of the spindle independently of theposition of the dog, and means projecting from the spindle to engagesaid arm whereby to move the dog on sliding the spindle.

5. In a lock, in combination, a rotary slidable spindle, a pivotal dogoperated by said spindle, said dog having an arm extending alongside thespindle whereby to permit rotation of the spindle independently of theposition of the dog, means projecting from the spindle to engage saidarm whereby to move the dog on sliding the spindle, and a cam meansarranged to slide the spindle on rotation thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto ailixed my signature.

ROLLO MARPLE.

spring means for moving said latch outwardly, a roll-back for movingsaid latch insaid spindle being jourp no A

